Samsung ST66 Preview

Samsung just announced two new models in its affordable, compact line of ST digital cameras, the ST66 and the ST76. Save for slightly different color options and the ST76's inclusion of Optical Image Stabilization, the ST66 and ST76 are essentially the same camera. Both feature a 16.1 megapixel CCD sensor and a 5x optical zoom lens (25-125mm equivalent) that starts at an admirable F2.5 and ends with a pretty dark F6.3 at full zoom. A CCD image sensor is good enough for 720p HD video recording.

Smart Auto 2.0, Samsung's latest software intended to let the camera do all the heavy lifting when trying to take the perfect picture, is also included with Live Panorama and a number of creative apps. Magic Frames allow you to make in-camera instant posters; simply call up a Magic Frame template, frame your subject within its borders, and snap away. Picture-in-Picture works in a similar way; take one picture to be the background, select and area to erase, and capture your second image. If that's not enough for you there's also Funny Face, which gives users 5 different ways to adjust people's faces.

The Samsung ST66 costs about $10 less than the ST76, and does not include Optical Image Stabilization. Given the F6.3 lens at full zoom, low light shooting might be a bit of a challenge when trying to use the zoom, so stabilization might be worth a few extra greenbacks.

Samsung ST66 Preview Features:

16.1 megapixel CCD sensor

5x optical zoom lens (25-125mm; F2.5-F6.3)

720p HD Movie Recording (30fps)

Live Panorama

Smart Auto 2.0

Magic Frames:

Wall Art

Full Moon

Magazine

Holiday

Picture-in-Picture

Funny Face

Additional Product Views:

Visitors of Steves can visit the stores below for real-time pricing and availability. You can also find hot, soon to expire online offers on a variety of cameras and accessories at our very own Camera Deals page.